Editor’s note: Below are photos of final preparations for the Sept. 12, 2011 tea-party debate broadcast on CNN. All photos are by Joe Kovacs, WND’s executive news editor, who was at the event at the Florida State Fairgrounds, just outside Tampa, Fla.

News media tour the debate hall.

CNN tests its satellite feeds inside the debate hall.

Staffers post wallpaper in the post-debate media spin-room.

A staffer shines a star on the debate stage.

CNN political director Sam Feist addresses news media from all over the U.S.

CNN tests a giant screen that will display questions coming via the Internet.

CNN stafers test the satellite signal from debate-watch parties in three U.S. cities.